Spool



March 14, 1961 J. B. HAWLEY 2,974,896

SPOOL F iled March 15, 1957 F I G. I

IN VEN TOR JOHN B. HAWLE Y ATTORNEY SPOOL John B. Hawley, 1002 Sunset Drive, Greensboro, N.C.

Filed Mar. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 646,346

2 Claims. (Cl. 242-1184) The present invention relates to a bobbin or the like u having a fabricated barrel and relates more particularly to a bobbin in which a solid barrel for receiving convolutions of cord, yarn or wire is reinforced by means of an axial tubular member and wherein the tubular member is provided with axially spaced spindle-engaging bearing inserts separable from said members to facilitate assemblage.

Spools, bobbins and other winding or reeling devices employed in the forming of yarn packages in which nylon yarn, cord or monofilament is wound is subjected to the inherent characteristics of nylon wherein there is always the tendency for the nylon to attempt to recover its original status and length and to revert to a relaxed condition. In attempting to return to its original length after a continuous length of nylon yarn has been subjected to a substantially uniform tension during winding convolutions of yarn on a bobbin, there is created a radialcompressive crushing action that is transmitted from the yarn convolutions to the bobbin barrel on which the yarn is retained. This crushing action results in inducing stresses within the barrel that tend to distort the barrel axially as well as to compress the barrel radially. Axial distortion of the barrel precludes facility of mounting and dismounting of a bobbin on a spindle. Barrel unbalance which produces objectionable vibration during high speed rotary operation, and the possibility of damaging the spindle is ever present. Radial distortion of the barrel prevents the proper introduction of a spindle axially into the spindle opening of the barrel.

Particularly in those bobbins in which the barrel is made of wood or other non-homogeneous or non-isotropic material that may be readily compressible transverse to the bobbin axis, additional reinforcing strength is required to resist the compressive stresses exerted by the cumulative tensile stress of the yarn convolutions during relaxation of the tension and resultant contraction in the nylon yarn or cord. It has been found that a thin wall steel sleeve extending axially through an axial core of a wooden barrel will provide adequate resistance against the crushing radial forces induced by the nylon yarn convolutions attempting to return to its original condition of length.

Frequently in the fabrication of bobbins a swaged spindle-receiving sleeve member is employed in which a tapered or step spindle may be received. The sleeve member must be swaged with graduated diameters in axial spaced positions to engage a tapered or step spindle either for driving bearing rotation of the bobbin on the spindle or when the bobbin rotates with the spindle.

are needed in order to accommodate and support within a solid or fabricated bobbin barrel a plurality ofvarying Unitd S s. Pat nt i "2,974,896 Patented Mar. .14, 1 96 1 bobbin and wherein axially spaced spindle bearing elements may be inserted within the sleeve members for engaging a spindle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bobbin on which nylon cord or yarn may be wound and wherein a wooden bobbin barrel is protected against radial compression by means of a reinforcing tubular core which has in combination therewith axially spaced spindle bea-ring elements.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a bobbin bearing housing within a solid bobbin barrel for insertion of a spindle wherein individual cylindrical sleeves are spaced axially from each other to receive spindle bearing inserts therebetween at selectively spaced positions in a bobbin core.

Yet another object is the provision of an elongated bobbin barrel that may be readily adaptable to a standard spindle length by providing spindle-engaging bearing elements within spindle length limits at predetermined positions within a tubular sleeve reinforced bobbin barrel.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a reinforced bobbin in which the spindle-receiving core is assembled in components that are readily replaceable, one that is simple and inexpensive to assemble, a bobbin in which a minimum of machining operations is necessary and one that is capable of prolonged use witha minimum of maintenance.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical elevational view of a bobbin embodying the features of this inventive concept mounted on a bobbin-supporting spindle and driving whorl and illustrating in outline the bobbin interior construction for support on a relative short spindle;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bobbin of Fig. 1 taken substantially along the plane of section line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view, with an intermediate portion removed, of the bobbin of Fig. 1 taken substantially along the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the relation of a tubular sleeve member and a bearing element.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1 there is illustrated therein an elongated bobbin or spool 10 embodying the inventive concept with the bobbin 10 mounted for rotation on a conventional length spindle 11 that is supported on a bobbin-supporting driving whorl 12 with the segmental disks 13 mounted in spaced relation on the flange or bobbin head 14 at the base end of the bobbin 10 to receive a bobbin and spindle driving ,rod (not shown) therebetween when the bobbin is mounted in the operating positionon the whorl, as shown.

Bobbin 10 has a solid cylindrical barrel 16 'thatis normally constructed of wood and is provided with alon- 3 a 'g'itudinal hollow axial core 17 which core is larger in diameter than the diameter of "the spindle 11 on which the bobbin is to be supported or rotatably mounted. The terminal ends 18 and 19 of the bobbin barrel .have se- 'c'ure'd thereon fianges-or bobbin'heads 14 and 20, each of which flanges is provided with a spindle-receiving'aper- "hire 2]. that is concentric with the barrel core 17. Al-

though for the purposes ofthisspecification a'wooden barrel on which the yarn convolutions are wound or other material of comparable structural characteristics may be described, it is not intended in. any limitative'sense as the inventive concept is applicable to other materials and to other bobbin structural assemblages.

Flanges 1'4 and 20 and disk 13 are securely fastened to the ends of the barrel '16 by means of sui-tablescrews "22 that are countersunk .within the disk 13 and flange 20. The flanges may be formed of a fabricated resin, laminated wood, metal or other combinations of materialswiththe per'ipheryl23 of each flange being roundedso as'to presenta smooth surface over which the yarn maybe drawn during unwinding.

'As noted above, when nylon cord or yarn particularly is wound on the barrel 16 in convolutions there is generated a very high compressive stress which tends to crush and displace the yarn convolutions thereby compressing the barrel radially. It has been found-necessary "due to the characteristics of nylon and other synthetic materials of continuous length to increase the radial compressive resistance of the bobbin barrel by providing a metallic liner in the form of a tubular sleeve member which extends through the hollow core of the barrel.

However, it is also necessary to include a spindle-en- "gaging bearing element that will permit free rotation of the bobbin 'on a spindle without disproportionately increasing thecost of the assembled bobbin. In those applications where the bobbin revolves with spindle the bearing element serves as a guide spacer.

In a preferred construction of the bobbin shown in 'Fig. 3, the core in the solid barrel 16 is axially lined with a first reinforcing tubular sleeve member 25 which member 25 extends from one terminal end 26 from a position adjacent to one end of the barrel to the terminal end 27 that is located intermediate the barrel length within the core. The overall length of the sleeve member 25 will be determined frequently by the length of the "Spindle on which thebobbin is mounted. A concentric ring or sleeve bearing 28 having a circumferential outwardly projecting shoulder '29, intermediate the bearing length, is seated with the shoulder 29 against the terminal end 26 of the sleeve member 25. One portion 30 of the bearing 28 is .insertable into the terminalend 26 of the tubular sleeve member with the portion 31 extending into the opening or aperture 21 in the flange head 14. A snug fit is provided between the outer diameter of the bearing 28 and the inside diameter of the tubular sleeve member 25.

Spaced axially fromthe first bearing 28, .a'suitable distance to be determined by the length of the spindle 11 on which the bobbin barrel 16 is to be received, is a second bearing 33 substantially identical to the said first bearing 28, the bearing 33 also being provided with a circumferential shoulder 34 thereon. The second sleeve bearing 33'is inserted'into-the other terminal "end 27 f the tubular sleeve member. 25 and the shoulder 34 is seated against theend thereof. The portion 35 of the bearing 33 extends into theend 27 of sleeve 25 to make bearing contact with'a'spindle on which thebobbin is mounted. A portion '36 of'th'e sleeve bearing 33 extends axially to receiveabout itsoutside tubular surface a second reinforcing tubular sleevemember '38. Terminal end -'39*of the second tubular sleeve-member jis'seated against the circumferential shoulder 34" 'ofqthe bearing'33. Tu-

"bular sleeve member .38 extends axially at least to the other end 19 of'the barrel16 and.preferablyintoaa cirtapered or step spindle.

members'may be utilized, seamlessor butted'stee'l'tubing,

as illustrated by the butted cylindrical element 42, has been found adequate to resistthe "normal crushing action of the barrel. However, itis contemplated that other materials and constructions may be utilized. Furthermore, although bearing sleeves made of brass have been found entirely suitable for bearing engagement with a spindle, other bearing materials such as nylon or babbitt and others may be utilized.

In the embodiment illustrated 'sleevemembers and bearings of substantially similar design and diametershave been employed, however, it is contemplated that'the'se elements may be dissimilarin design and the diameters of each may vary to accommodate the contour of a Also, while a flanged bobbin has been described and illustrated, the construction 'disclosed may be equally applicable to a headless bobbin or pirn.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that the tubular sleeve member for reinforcing the bobbin barrel may be continuous with the bearing inserts spaced axially from each other. However, where the tubular sleeves are discontinuous with the bearing insertsmounted between thesleeve ends there is provided adequate resistance against radial compression.

Obviously, many modifications and variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of tubular sleeve members and the location of the sleeve bearings as well as modifications made in the assemblage for mounting the bobbin on a spindle without departing from the real purpose and spirit of this invention. it is, therefore, to be understoodthat within the scopeof the :ap-

pended claims many modified forms of the present inventive concept as well as the use of an alternative-and mechanical equivalents may be reasonably included and modifications are contemplated.

What isclaimedis: 1. A bobbin of the character described comprising a solid wooden barrel having a longitudinal axial core for receiving a spindle therein, apertured heads. mounted on the barrel ends in'registry with said core, an articulated'tubular reinforcing core and bearing assembly including a first reinforcing tubular member reaching axially fromadjacent to one 'end'of :said :barrel to a length intermediate the length of the barrel, a spindlereceiving cylindrical sleeve bearing insertable into and concentric with:said member adjacent to said end, said sleeve bearing having a circumferential shoulder thereon for resisting axial displacement, a second spindle sleeve bearing in axial spaced relation to-said first bearing and intermediate the barrel length and cylindrically insertable into and extending for a short axial length of the other end of said first reinforcing tubular member, and a second tubular reinforcing member in. abutting juxtaposition to said second sleeve bearing and said first reinforcing-member, said second tubular member reaching toat least the other end of the barrel.

2. A.bobbin or the like comprising a cylindrical barrel I of wood having a: spindle-receiving axial core,.apertured flanges mounted it the ends of said barrel,.a barrel reinforcing tubular member extending axially and concentrcially ,in saidcore said tubular member terminating intermediate the barrellength from aposition adjacent tonne of said. flanges, a first spindleisleeve .bearingslidably insertable into said member at one terminal end thereof adjacent to a flange, said bearing having a circumferential shoulder extending therefrom, said shoulder being seated against the terminal end of said tubular member to limit bearing axial movement, a second spindle sleeve bearing slidably insertable into the other end of said tubular member and having a circumferential shoulder intermediate its length seated against said other end of said member, and means for retaining the second sleeve bearing seated against said other end of the tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hornbuckle Oct. 2, 1934 Clinton Sept. 13, 1938 Atwood Oct. 3, 1944 Locke Dec. 30, 1952 Dunlap May 18, 1954 Dunlap June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 3, 1890 

